[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42766-42767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20925]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(I.D. 072297C)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries
Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of process; developing U.S. positions on FAO fisheries
issues.
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SUMMARY: Important events occurred at the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization's (FAO's) meeting of the Committee on
Fisheries (COFI) in March 1997. The United States highlighted several
fisheries issues for FAO and member countries to take action on in the
near future: Managing fishing capacity, seabird bycatch and mortality
in longline fisheries, and shark conservation and management.
The United States is working with FAO on preparations designed to
lead to an FAO Consultation, with all FAO member countries invited, to
consider action plans for all three issues in late 1998. Preparations
will include meetings of expert Technical Working Groups (TWGs) with
the result that FAO will provide background information and draft plans
of action well in advance of the FAO Consultation.
NMFS is involved directly in each of these initiatives and believes
that keeping affected industries and interested groups informed is
important. The public is invited to contact the individuals identified
in supplementary information to declare interest and receive further
information, including the terms of reference for the TWGs when these
become available. Public meetings that may be required in the planning
for the FAO COFI Consultation will be announced in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Questions about this document may be directed to Dean
Swanson, Chief, International Fisheries Division, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Swanson, 301-713-2276.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Management of Fishing Capacity
It is widely recognized that excess fishing effort exerted by
unnecessarily large fishing fleets is often a contributing factor to
the depletion of fish stocks. Excess fishing capacity can be a major
impediment to effective management and a major source of economic
waste. Although an international consensus appears to be emerging on
the need for improved control of fishing capacity, its implementation
at the national, regional, and global levels is proving to be
difficult. In order to provide the type of information needed by
fisheries managers, policymakers, the fishing sector, and other
concerned parties, NMFS has agreed to sponsor or co-sponsor one or more
international meetings, with the ultimate aim of producing (i)
technical guidelines on how to define, measure and control fishing
capacity, and on the causes, consequences, and cures for overcapacity,
and (ii) a draft plan of action for consideration at the FAO
Consultation. The exact objectives and terms of reference for the
capacity TWG are still under discussion with FAO and Japan.
The United States is the principal sponsor of a proposed TWG on
Fishing Capacity, with FAO and Japan also contributing some funds. The
TWG is tentatively scheduled to be held in La Jolla, CA, in early 1998.
Followup meetings leading to a plan of action are likely to be co-
sponsored by the United States and Japan.
NMFS Contact: regarding the TWG, Pamela Mace
Ocean Fishery Resources Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
508-495-2357
regarding the FAO Consultation, Matteo Milazzo
International Fisheries Division
[[Page 42767]]
Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-2276
Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries
Tens of thousands of seabirds are being killed incidental to
various commercial longline fisheries in the world. Some of the
seabirds are species of management concern and populations of several
other seabird species may be declining because of longline bycatches.
Seabird bycatch also has an adverse impact on catch rates and
profitability of fishing operations. Governments, nongovernmental
organizations, and commercial fishery associations are petitioning for
regulatory measures to reduce the mortality of seabirds in the world's
longline fisheries.
The goal for the Seabird TWG and the subsequent FAO Consultation is
to produce an action plan to implement FAO guidelines on mitigating
measures to reduce incidental catches of seabirds in longline
fisheries. Japan and the U.S. will co-host the session, and the U.S.
co-lead agencies are NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
NMFS Contact: Kim Rivera
National Marine Fisheries Service
Fisheries Management Division
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802
907-586-7228
FWS Contact: Kent Wohl
Migratory Bird Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1011 East Tudor
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-783-3503
Shark Conservation and Management
Global landings of sharks and related species have dramatically
increased in recent years. Sharks are particularly vulnerable to
overexploitation due to life history characteristics, particularly
relatively low rates of reproduction. In addition, fishing mortality
due to bycatch exceeds that due to directed fisheries. The expanding
international market for shark fins, cartilage, meat, and skins is an
important factor motivating recent increased mortality.
An international consensus is emerging on the need for improved
control of fishing effort on sharks and related species by both
directed and bycatch fleets. The goal for the upcoming Shark TWG and
subsequent FAO Consultation is to develop a global strategy (action
plan) and guidelines for sustainable international and regional
management of elasmobranch species by national, regional, and highly
migratory management groups.
The intent of the strategy is to provide an effective web of
management regimes sufficient to arrest the declines of sharks, skates,
and rays where they have occurred and to put the harvest of these
species on a sustainable basis.
NMFS Contact: Dean Swanson
International Fisheries Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-2276
Dated: August 4, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20925 Filed 8-7-97; 8:45 am]
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